WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- A Florida man was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 months and one day in prison followed by three years' supervised release for threatening to shoot members of a mosque in Miami, Florida.
Gerald Wallace, 35, had pleaded guilty in October to one count of obstructing the free exercise of religious belief by making the threatening call.
The man left a voicemail for the Islamic Center of Greater Miami which included hate filled messages against Islam, the prophet Mohammed, and the Koran.
"Hate crimes violate our country's most fundamental principles," said US Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg.
"Today, Wallace was sentenced for depriving the Islamic Center's congregants of the right to freely exercise their religion," Greenberg added.
Meanwhile, a US court charged a German citizen with conspiracy to kill US nationals, providing and conspiring to provide support to terrorists including Al Qaeda and is seeking his extradition from France.
Christian Ganczarski, also known as Abu Mohamed, 51, "regularly interacted with members of Al Qaeda," "allegedly provided critical support," and "participated in the planning of plots to kill Americans," according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
"As alleged, Ganczarski willingly supported the goals of Al Qaeda, immersing himself in social circles that included the likes of Usama bin Laden and one of the future hijackers in the September 11 attacks, among others," said Assistant Director at the FBI William Sweeney.
Ganczarski allegedly worked for Al Qaeda, lived in its camps and guests houses; he had also had "rubbed shoulers" with Osama Bin Laden.
In 2003, Ganczarski was arrested in France and convicted of offenses under French law relating to a 2002 Al Qaeda attack on a synagogue in Tunisia. He has been incarcerated in France since his conviction.
In the US, Ganczarski faces the possibility of life in prison and three 15 year prison sentences. (end) ak.gb